Waking in a wacky Wonderland

Friday

Aug 17, 2012 at 2:00 AM

Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland is indeed a favorite tale among many youngsters, old and new, and Harwich Junior Theatre brings this classic to the stage in a lively and vibrant performance of young players.

Heather Bailey

SHAWN SIMPSON PHOTO

REALLY? “Who are these people?” seems to be the question coming from Alice (Erin Mahoney) as she confronts the March Hare (Audrey Ereickson) and the Mad Hatter (Ian Morris) in HJT’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

HJT’s Alice is a trip worth taking

Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland is indeed a favorite tale among many youngsters, old and new, and Harwich Junior Theatre brings this classic to the stage in a lively and vibrant performance of young players. As you walk into the theater you will see a scene that is ornate and thoroughly Victorian on one side: an elaborate tree and shrub that emulate the riverbank that Alice takes her nap upon. The other side is the antithesis with a simple black wall with arches cut out and trimmed in bold primary colors, an utterly modern interpretation of Wonderland.

You don't realize how important this black backdrop is until the cast of creatures begin to make its way onto the stage. Each of these wonders from Wonderland is more creatively costumed than their predecessors. The colors and textures coupled with some fairly outrageous make-up choices create a feast for the senses, ultimately capturing one of the core themes of Lewis Carroll's time-honored book.

This is one heck of a young ensemble, with more than 30 players, many of which are elementary and middle school-aged. It is rather astounding how well they all come together to complement each other. Their skills and acting chops, far beyond their years, rival the brilliantly colored costumes and help to enhance the show's overall entertainment value. The production is sure to appeal to a young audience; the quick pace and short running time make it an ideal family outing or perhaps a great introduction to the theater for your youngster.

It just wouldn't be an HJT performance without some comedic highlights, and this show doesn't disappoint. When it comes to some uproariously humorous moments, they are delivered by the Cheshire Cat, played by HJT veteran Keelia Skye O'Donnell. The Cat is one of the more notable characters in the book, and the portrayal in this show is simply purrrfect. O’Donnell captures the cat's beguiling and slightly naughty demeanor to a tee. And of course how could one not see the humor in the outrageous antics of the Queen of Hearts, played by Kajsa Brimdyr? Every time she shouts “off with their heads,” the audience realizes how absurd she truly is, not to mention how idle all of those threats really are. There are many other great performances, with both the younger Alice, Raquel Wallace and the older Alice, Erin Mahoney, shining brightly on stage with a heartwarming innocence and feistiness so indicative of the character.

HJT has a knack for putting on family-friendly and thoroughly entertaining shows, but even more important is how they successfully manage to impart something just a bit more into each show they do. The Duchess points this out quite vividly when she states that everything has a moral and there is a moral in all things. This show certainly tells the audience that all is not what it seems, and how crucial it is to allow creatures of all kinds to be themselves and to accept them for what they are.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is presented by Harwich Junior Theatre through Aug. 26, with performances Tuesdays through Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Friday and Sunday matinees at 4 p.m. For tickets, call 508-432-2002 or go to www.hjtcapecod.org.